언론사

 Increasing Number of Trips Abroad

The Cheongdae Times regular reporter So-Yeon Jo

The number of travelers is increasing as COVID-19 restrictions become more relaxed, and countries open their borders to travelers. Demand for overseas travel during the October holiday was around 50% compared to 2019, which is a great improvement compared to the last two years.

In Korea, as the mandatory entry PCR inspection system has been completely abolished since October third, expectations for the normalization of the travel market are growing in the industry. According to the travel industry, demand for overseas packages and tickets for the National Foundation Day and Hangeul Day holidays has recovered by 60% compared to 2019.

Expectations for overseas travel have risen due to the government's easing of regulations related to overseas travel. In the travel industry, Sales of overseas airline tickets and travel-related products are increasing significantly.

The number of travelers booking overseas tickets has increased as the burden of local PCR test costs and additional stay in the definite diagnosis has disappeared.

As free travel to Japan is held for the first time in two and a half years, inquiries on reservations for travel packages to Japan as well as flight restoration are actively underway. The Japanese government said it will restore the visa-free entry system and allow foreigners to travel individually from October 11th.

According to officials from major travel agencies, the reservation rate of Japanese goods has been on a high rise since early September, when the possibility of allowing visa-free entry was raised, and the atmosphere has continued steadily even after the official announcement. As Japan allows visa-free entry, the demand for travel to Japan can be seen to explode.

On 11th Street, an online shopping mall site in Korea, overseas ticket transactions more than quadrupled (330%) from August 31 to September 20th compared to the previous year.

The figure is more than three times higher than the increase in domestic air ticket transactions (104%) during the same period. Overseas hotel transactions jumped more than 12 times (1,102%) and overseas travel packages more than 11 times (1,083%).

By age group, the proportion of people in their 20s and 30s rose sharply from 17% last year to 41% this year.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, business travelers in their 40s and 50s mainly purchased air tickets for business purposes, while transactions among young people increased this year as overseas travel became relatively free of restrictions.

The airport was crowded with people waiting for departure procedures for the October holiday. It is showing a realization that the sky path, which had been closed due to COVID-19 is gradually opening.